University of Oslo
Universitetet i Oslo
Norway's oldest university, once host of the Nobel Peace Prize, with a single English-taught bachelor's.
- Students
- 27,400
- Tuition
- NOK 218K
- 2027-28
- Founded
- 1811
- QS World Ranking
- #131
- 2027 edition
About UiO
The University of Oslo was founded in 1811 as the Royal Frederick University, when King Frederick VI of Denmark agreed to give Norway its first university, and it opened in 1813. It kept that name until 1939. Today it has about 27,400 students and 6,900 staff (full-time equivalents) in eight faculties, runs two museums including the one that holds the world's best-preserved Viking ships, and had 125 ERC-funded projects in 2025.
UiO's historic buildings line Karl Johans gate in the city centre, while the main Blindern campus, developed from the 1930s, lies to the north. The university counts five Nobel laureates, including Fridtjof Nansen and the chemist Odd Hassel. The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in its Aula from 1947 to 1989, and the Abel Prize in mathematics is presented there today.
International school-leavers should know that almost all bachelor's programmes are taught in Norwegian and need proof of Norwegian proficiency, and UiO offers no preparatory Norwegian courses before admission. The exception is the English-taught bachelor's in Technology Systems: Science and Engineering, which covers renewable energy, robotics, space systems, cybersecurity of physical systems and health technology. Since 2023, students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland have paid tuition fees, and UiO offers no scholarships to cover them.
Why students choose UiO
The English-taught Technology Systems bachelor's is built around hands-on systems engineering, from satellites and robots to smart grids.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens pay no tuition, only the semester fee.
Five Nobel Prize laureates have been affiliated with UiO, and it is ranked 86th in the world by ARWU 2026.
Hundreds of student-run associations, plus sports and housing through the Student Welfare Organisation (SiO).
Admissions
Entry August 2027
Selectivity
UiO does not publish an overall admission rate. Qualified applicants to the English-taught bachelor's are ranked on their upper secondary grades. Norwegian-taught bachelor's programmes admit through Samordna opptak (NUCAS) on grade points.
Typical entry requirements
| Higher Education Entrance Qualification (HEEQ) | You must meet Norway's general entry requirements; applicants from some countries also need one or two years of higher education on top of school (see the GSU list on hkdir.no) |
|---|---|
| Technology Systems: subject requirements | Mathematics equivalent to Norwegian R1 (British AS level) plus one science subject such as physics, chemistry or biology equivalent to British A level |
| Norwegian-taught bachelor's programmes | HEEQ plus documented Norwegian proficiency; apply via Samordna opptak |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 80 Equivalent to grade 4 in Norwegian upper secondary English. Accepted tests include TOEFL iBT 80 (or 4.5 for tests after 21 January 2026), IELTS Academic 6.0, Cambridge B2 First grade B, C1 Advanced grade C. Tests must be verifiable online. |
Deadlines
- Søknadsweb (applicants without Norwegian proficiency) Non-binding Next deadline · In 56 days1 December 2026
Portal opens 15 October 2026 for the Technology Systems bachelor's starting August 2027. You must have completed your school-leaving qualification by 1 December, and non-EU/EEA applicants must document their financing by then.
- Samordna opptak (applicants with Norwegian proficiency) Non-binding In ~6 months15 April 2027
1 March for some applicants. Also the route for all Norwegian-taught bachelor's programmes.
UiO's programme page gives 15 October and 1 December for the Søknadsweb portal and 1 February to 15 April for Samordna opptak; these apply to study starting August 2027.
How to apply
Applicants without Norwegian proficiency apply to Technology Systems: Science and Engineering through UiO's own portal, Søknadsweb, open 15 October to 1 December. Upload your diploma and transcripts, English test, passport and, for non-EU/EEA citizens, proof of NOK 170,368 in living funds, all by the deadline. Applicants with Norwegian proficiency apply through Samordna opptak (1 February to 15 April).
What admissions looks for
- Eligibility under Norway's Higher Education Entrance Qualification rules for your country.
- Mathematics to R1 or AS level plus a full A-level-standard science for Technology Systems.
- Strong upper secondary grades, which are used to rank qualified applicants.
- Documented English proficiency and, for non-EU/EEA applicants, proof of funds by the deadline.
Tips for applying to UiO
- 1 Apply in the year after you finish school: you must already hold your school-leaving qualification by 1 December to apply through Søknadsweb.
- 2 Non-EU/EEA applicants must show NOK 170,368 for living costs at application and, if admitted, transfer it to a deposit account, on top of NOK 218,000 in tuition.
- 3 Check the GSU list on hkdir.no early: applicants from some countries need one or two years of university study before they are eligible.
- 4 If you want a Norwegian-taught programme you will need Norwegian proficiency already, as UiO offers no preparatory language courses.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in NOK
UiO does not offer scholarships for full bachelor's or master's degree students and says it is legally barred from using its grant for them. Some applicants with residence in Norway or other close ties can apply for a tuition fee exemption after admission. Tuition must be paid in full before each academic year, with no instalments.
- None
- UiO scholarships for degree students
- Up to 20 hours per week
- Part-time work allowed (non-EU/EEA)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (autumn and spring)
Technology Systems: Science and Engineering (BSc)
UiO's English-taught bachelor's: 180 ECTS with mandatory programming, mathematics and systems courses, 20 ECTS of specialisation and 30 ECTS of electives or exchange.
Economics
The department of Nobel laureates Ragnar Frisch and Trygve Haavelmo, and the degree taken by Jens Stoltenberg.
Medicine
The degree of former Prime Minister and WHO Director-General Gro Harlem Brundtland; taught in Norwegian.
Psychology
Where Nobel laureates May-Britt and Edvard Moser trained as psychologists.
English-taught master's programmes
A wide range of international master's, e.g. Data Science, Space Systems and Astrophysics (NOK 218,000 a year for 2027/28).
Research
- UiO had 10 centres of excellence and 125 ERC-funded projects in 2025.
- Ole-Johan Dahl and Kristen Nygaard created the Simula programming language and received the 2001 Turing Award; Nygaard studied mathematics at UiO.
- UiO is building the Life Science Building, which it describes as Norway's largest university and hospital building.
- Interdisciplinary priority areas include UiO:Energy and Environment, UiO:Democracy and UiO:Life Science.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Dentistry
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Faculty of Theology
- Faculty of Educational Sciences
Student life
Student housing is provided by the Student Welfare Organisation (SiO), and UiO students also have access to cafeterias, health services and sports facilities. There are hundreds of student-run associations, and you can get support to start your own. Most teaching is on the Blindern campus, while the historic buildings on Karl Johans gate host events in the Aula, where the Abel Prize is awarded each year. Many students work part-time; students from outside the EU/EEA can work up to 20 hours a week.
- The University Aula, venue of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony from 1947 to 1989 and of the Abel Prize today.
- Hundreds of student associations, all run by students.
- UiO's museums, including the Viking ships collection and The Climate House.
- Student cafeterias, health services and sports facilities.
Housing. SiO provides single rooms, shared flats and couples' flats, and UiO has housing priority arrangements for new international students.
Location
Oslo is Norway's compact capital, surrounded by forest and the Oslofjord. UiO's historic buildings sit on Karl Johans gate in the city centre, and the Blindern campus is a short metro ride north. Oslo is expensive: UiO estimates a student needs about NOK 15,250 a month, half of it for housing, and non-EU students may work up to 20 hours a week.
Nearest airport: Oslo Airport, Gardermoen (OSL)
Notable alumni
- JS Jens StoltenbergPrime Minister of Norway and NATO Secretary General; economics degree from UiO (1987)
- GH Gro Harlem BrundtlandPrime Minister of Norway and Director-General of the WHO; medical degree from UiO
- TH Thor HeyerdahlExplorer of the Kon-Tiki expedition; studied zoology and geography at UiO
- MM May-Britt Moser2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine; trained as a psychologist and earned her PhD at UiO
- TH Trygve HaavelmoNobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences 1989; economics degree from UiO
- KN Kristen NygaardCo-creator of the Simula programming language and Turing Award winner; master's in mathematics from UiO
- JG Jostein GaarderAuthor of Sophie's World; studied Scandinavian languages and theology at UiO
Frequently asked questions
Can I study a bachelor's in English at the University of Oslo?
Only one programme is taught in English: Technology Systems: Science and Engineering. All other bachelor's programmes are in Norwegian and require documented Norwegian proficiency.
Is the University of Oslo free for international students?
It is tuition-free for EU/EEA and Swiss citizens. Since 2023, students from other countries pay tuition, NOK 218,000 a year for Technology Systems in 2027/28, and UiO offers no scholarships to cover it.
What is the University of Oslo application deadline for 2027?
1 December 2026 via Søknadsweb for applicants without Norwegian proficiency (portal opens 15 October). Applicants with Norwegian proficiency use Samordna opptak by 15 April 2027 (1 March for some).
What IELTS score does the University of Oslo require for bachelor's study?
IELTS Academic 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80 (4.5 for tests after 21 January 2026), or equivalent Cambridge results. Some applicants are exempt through their school English.
How much money do I need to live in Oslo as a student?
UiO estimates about NOK 15,250 a month. Non-EU/EEA students must document NOK 170,368 per academic year (2026/27 rate) for their residence permit.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- University of Oslo: Admission
- University of Oslo: Tuition fees
- University of Oslo: Table of costs 2026/27 and 2027/28
- University of Oslo: Technology Systems: Science and Engineering (bachelor)
- University of Oslo: Technology Systems, why choose this programme
- University of Oslo: Technology Systems, programme structure
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